Panera Bread — Restaurant in New York

I have frequented Panera Bread for quite some time now, and my overall experiences have been passable, but there are several aspects that need attention and improvement.

The atmosphere of Panera Bread is always inviting, with its open and spacious interior design which allows for a comfortable dining experience. Whether you're sitting down for a meal, grabbing a quick bite, or settling down with your laptop for some work, it's a suitable location.

Their food quality is undeniably good. They serve a variety of delicious soups, sandwiches, and pastries that cater to all tastes, with some health-conscious and vegetarian options too. The ingredients are fresh, and the meals are well-prepared, offering a homemade feel that differentiates them from many other fast-casual chains.

However, the quality of service fluctuates considerably. While the staff is mostly courteous, the service can sometimes be sluggish, affecting the overall experience, especially during peak hours. I've found that patience is a virtue when visiting Panera Bread, as you may need to wait a little longer than anticipated for your order.

An area of concern that has impacted my rating is their adherence to their own 'Rapid Pickup' guidelines. On more than one occasion, I've noticed that the employees hold back orders behind the counter, rather than placing them in the designated area for rapid pickup. This defeats the purpose of the rapid pickup system, designed for quick and convenient customer experience. It's not a deal-breaker, but it does call for better training and adherence to company policies.

Lastly, let's talk about the pricing. The menu at Panera Bread is, in my opinion, significantly pricier than other comparable fast-casual dining establishments. Yes, the food is high-quality, and the ingredients are fresh, but the price point can be a deterrent, especially for regular visitors or families.

In conclusion, Panera Bread offers good food and a comfortable ambiance, but they need to work on their service speed, adherence to their own guidelines, and reassess their pricing structure. Until these improvements are made, my rating stands at 3 out of 5 stars. I hope to see these changes in the future, which would certainly make Panera Bread a more compelling choice for...

The food is great! But the attitude of the server made me lose my appetite. Thus the 1 star. I do not frequently dine at Panera Bread. This morning (11/20/22 at ~8:15am) I ordered the chipotle chicken and scrambled egg sandwich on an Asiago cheese bagel with a chai tea latte at the Bay Plaza location in the Bronx. While the server was preparing the sandwich, I kindly asked if she can cut it in half. As someone who does not frequently dine at Panera I was not aware that they did not cut the sandwiches and you have to request to have it cut when you place your order with the cashier. Now it’s not what you say it’s how you say it. This server had the audacity to snap at me with an attitude saying “why didn’t you tell me before because it’s going to be harder for me to cut it now!” Meaning harder for her to cut it after it’s made. I said “how am I supposed to know that?” She responds, “y’all know we don’t cut it, you’re supposed to request for it to be cut at the register!” Now while this server was being extremely rude to me the manager was standing there and he said absolutely nothing, which upset me even more. I should have just asked for my money back and walk out. All in all this woman needs an attitude adjustment. I wasn’t begging food. I’m a paying customer. Without paying customers you wouldn’t have a job. I purposely added the date and time and what I ordered so if she or the manager reads this review or whomever reads this know exactly when it happened and who was working at the time. I’m a very disappointed customer. I will never...

Today 8/28/17 my boyfriend went to this nasty ghetto Panera Bread. He was chosen by Panera to get a free bagel per day, for the month of August 2017. They closed early yesterday 8/27/17 due to a mandatory staff meeting, boyfriend, had to work so he went to Panera Bread after 7pm, normally they would have been open until around 9pm. Boyfriend went back to Panera today 8/28/17 to get his free bagel for the day as well as the free bagel from yesterday. The cashier said that he could get his free bagel for the day but not the one from yesterday. My boyfriend then asked for the manager to let him know that he should be able to get his bagel from yesterday, because it was not his fault that the store closed early. The rude manager said "what do you want me to do? So you didn't get your bagel yesterday, oh well" my boyfriend then responded, "this is an inconvenience to me, it was not his fault your establishment closed early, I am entitled to my free bagel from yesterday as well as today's". The manager then rudely said to the cashier "just give him the bagel, ugh". I am disgusted in the managers behavior toward a "regular customer". Managements behavior is not called for, and will not be tolerated! We will be calling up Panera's Corporate office to complain about this managers unprofessional behavior today. It was disgusting and not called for! Management, YOU should be ashamed of yourself, YOU will be reported for your NASTY attitude!!! DO NOT GO HERE IF YOU WANT TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT!! ✊ it's not worth it! If I could give no...